That’s My Grill

There was a day when a gas grill was a simple, elegant instrument. It had a top, a bottom and a metal grate in between. It cooked your meats and vegetables, and after a long, hot summer, it collapsed into a rusty pile. Today’s grills, like most other American contraptions, have grown into stainless steel beasts that look seconds away from transforming into world-destroying robots. The O-Grill stands somewhere in between. At only 24 pounds, it’s compact enough to lug to the park or toss in the trunk. The inside is surprisingly large, with 225 square inches of grill space above a 9,450-BTU stainless steel burner. Translation: It can handle a huge steak.

2. SIT AND STARE
Remember how drive-in movie theaters were kind of seedy? The Joybee mini-projector allows you to recall the joys of the movies alfresco without the stale popcorn. And it fits right into your bag. $499 / www.benq.com

3. WIND IT UP
With its wind-up crank and tiny solar panels, this three-inch radio will come to the rescue when the battery dies on that fancy phone, GPS or MP3 player that was keeping you entertained and in touch. $25 / www.usefulthings.com

4. PALM OF YOUR HAND
Now that the initial fervor for the Palm Pré has ebbed, the only smart phone currently capable of challenging the iPhone’s reign can be had without waiting in line for a week.

Of course, with crisp graphics and elegant apps, waiting would have been perfectly justified. $199 / www.palm.com

5. A-PEELING
The potassium-filled, ultraportable banana comes in a protective case that peels right off when you’re ready to eat. Perfect when you’re on the go!